Lando Norris secured the Miami sprint pole for McLaren, ending Mercedes’ season-long qualifying dominance in a thrilling session.
MIAMI
Lando Norris reminded the Formula One world why he is the reigning champion by snatching pole position in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race. In a high-stakes qualifying session at the Hard Rock Stadium, the McLaren star clocked a blistering time of 1:27.869, officially ending Mercedes’ undefeated streak of pole positions for the 2026 season.
The victory was a major statement for McLaren, who arrived in Florida with a heavily upgraded car. “It’s nice to feel some grip again,” Norris remarked, crediting the team’s hard work for the improved performance. While McLaren hoped for a front-row lockout, Mercedes’ championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, spoiled the party by splitting the two orange cars to claim second place. Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, will start third, just ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The session offered a rare glimpse of vulnerability from Mercedes, who had dominated the first three rounds of the year. George Russell, currently second in the standings, expressed surprise at the massive leaps made by McLaren and Ferrari, admitting he struggled with the intense Miami heat.
Further down the grid, four-time champion Max Verstappen could only manage fifth for Red Bull, while Aston Martin’s nightmare season continued as they fell behind the newcomers, Cadillac. With eight points on the line for the sprint winner and overtaking expected to be frequent, the next race promises to be a flat-out battle under the revised engine rules designed for maximum speed.
